Got something broken that you’ve been meaning to fix but haven’t quite gotten around to it? “You are not alone,” says the broken toaster oven in my basement. Good news! The Aurora Public Library District’s monthly Repair Cafe is here to help you tighten the screws on that to-do list. This community-driven program invites you to roll up your sleeves, learn something new, and keep your item out of the landfill.
The Repair Cafe is a hands-on, interactive program where you can bring in everyday household items in need of a little TLC. Think coffee machines, vacuums, headphones, clothing, or that one lamp that won’t stay lit. With guidance from volunteer repair coaches, you’ll work through the problem and attempt the fix yourself. “Repair Cafe fosters a healthy and collaborative DIY community,” said librarian Ethan M. “It also gives people a chance to fix their items free of charge!”
The idea to bring Repair Cafe to Aurora came from community member Weija Chang. With a background in non-profit work and a willing group of friends to help coordinate, Repair Cafe Aurora launched their first event in September 2025 here at APLD. They modeled the event, which they lovingly refer to as the ‘first pancake’, after Evanston, Illinois’ Repair Cafe. “You know how the first pancake isn’t always right, but you learn a lot? That’s what that event was,” said Weija. “We also learned from our Evanston Repair Cafe friends. They brought their coaches and we learned what the flow would be, what check in would look like, those sorts of things.”
Motivated by what they learned from the first pancake, Weija and her team launched a monthly Repair Cafe event in April 2026 at Santori Library. “Our favorite aspect has been watching this community of repair coaches and participants come together,” says Weija. “We all cheer and applaud when a repair goes well, but even when it doesn’t, people are still appreciative of the attempt, the information, and a clear answer.” The goal is to encourage a more sustainable way of thinking and shift people into the practice of thinking “before I throw this out, can I repair this?”
If the answer is yes, bring your item to the Santori Library Saturday, July 18 (the third Saturday of each month) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can pre-register at www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/events or we accept walk-ins on a first come, first served basis. For more information, contact the library at 630-264-4117 or visit Aurora Repair Cafe on Facebook. Sometimes, a little teamwork is all it takes to piece things back together!
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.